The majority of adults in the United States have a credit card, or they have owned a credit card at some point in their adult lives. Credit cards can be highly beneficial if they are used correctly. Credit cards can be used to establish credit, and they can also help you to make large purchases. If you are a first time credit card user, you do well to follow some of the following suggestions.
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#1 Beware of Fees
It is highly probable that you have received some kind of offer to get a credit card. Beware, not all offers are created equally. Make sure that the company is not charging you extremely high fees for interest or for the annual fee. It is possible to get a good credit card that has no annual fee and a very low interest rate.
#2 Choose Your Cards Carefully
#3 Do Not Buy What You Cannot Pay For
Some people see a credit card as a money bank, but that is not the case. Credit cards have a purpose, but you should not use them as if they were free money. The money that you owe on your credit card must be repaid, so only pay for things that you are going to be able to pay back within the month. The longer that you take to pay off your balance, the more interest that you are going to rack up.
#4 Always Pay On Time
You never want to pay anything late on your credit cards because you will be penalized. If you received an initial offer on your credit card, you must meet the requirements to maintain that offer. One of the main stipulations on any offer is that you make all of your payments on time. Once you start making your payments late, the offer will be voided. If you habitually make late payments, it will affect your credit score.
#5 Pay More Than The Minimum
If you have an outstanding balance, you do want to get it paid off as soon as possible. This means that you do not only pay the minimum balance. Even though your credit card statement will show that you only have a minimum balance, keep in mind that you will still be accruing interest on the balance that is not paid.
#6 Check Your Balance
There can be hidden fees tacked onto your credit card, so pay attention. Each month, you should be going online to look at your credit card statement. There, you will see all the transactions that you did. If you see any unknown transactions or fees, be sure to get in contact with your credit card company as soon as possible.
#7 Keep Up With Your Credit Score
Your credit score is extremely valuable to any future loan that you may need. Your credit card transactions can have a huge impact on your credit score, so make sure that you are frequently cheåcking your credit score. There are more apps than ever before that can help you to keep track of your credit score, so download one to avoid any credit score issues.
Be Smart with Your Credit Card
Even though a shiny new credit card can seem like a toy, it is actually a tool that can be used for you or against you. The decisions that you make with your credit can have a huge impact on your future, so swipe wisely, and never let your debt get out of your control.